Binder



BINDER 2 sneet ssheem 1 Filed May '7, 1925 INVENIOR ATTORNIEW F. BENER BINDER Fi y 7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KNVENTOR WM M ATTORNEYS Bill Hill

lltl or replace the leaves.

ifatented Unit lEd...

FRIED BJEIBNER, F FAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

BINDER.

Application filed May '7, 1926. Serial No 105?",389.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders. fine of the principal. objects of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder which is better suited to the needs of deliverymen,

such as icemcn and milkmen, than the binders now in common use.

It is appreciated by those who have 00- casion to use loose leaf binders that for many purposes it is desirable to have a relatively small, compact binder which will hold securely anynumber of sheets or leaves within the capacity of the binder, a binder which can be readily carried in a pocket and which can be easily taken apart to remove It is desirable to have the leaves firmly bound together, so that at no time will there be any danger of the leaves being accidentally pulled out of the binder. Spring clamping devices of various kinds have been employed heretofore, but these have not proved to be entirely sati factory because they will hold securely only a certain number of leaves; if a smaller number of leaves are inserted, they will not be held securely. Furthermore, spring clips of any kind soon lose their strength and then it is necessary to replace the binder entirely.

Various attempts have been made to utilize screw threaded binding means of one kind or another for the purpose of clamping the leaves ofa loose leaf binder in place. It is recognized that screw threaded clamping means are very efficient as a means for gripping the leaves. On the other hand, it is oftentimes very difficult to remove or replace leaves where screw threaded binding means are employed, because of the tendency of the leaves to catch in the screw threads.

With a view to overcoming the objections pointed out above in connection with the ordinary loose leaf binders, and also with a view to securing the greatest possible number of advantages in a device of this kind, it have devised a simple, inexpensive loose leaf binder which combines the advantages of screw threaded gripping means with the facility of removal and replacement of the leaves common to binders which are not prov ded with such eiiicient gripping means. My improved binder is preferably provided with a single bindingpost, and this is arranged in such a manner with respect to the binding pieces and the leaves, that in order to release the leaves, it is merely necessary to loosen the nut carried by the post.

in general, my improved loose leaf binder comprises front and back binding strips, means for holding the leaves substantially in alignment, and a post which is preferably threaded throughout practically its entire length, these parts being arranged so that the screw threaded post and the nut carried thereby serve to grip the leaves firmly, although when the nut is loosened, the leaves can be removed or replaced without bringi ng them into close contact with the threaded post. My invention contemplates the provision of improved means for keeping the sheets or leaves in alignment. and this means is preferbly constructed in such a manner that it aids the binding; post in holding the leaves secure between the binding strips or pieces.

The various objects and advantages of. my invention can be understood by considering the following detailed ClGSCl'lPlTlQII and the accompanying drawings, in which l have illustrated a few en'ibodiments of the invention. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improved loose leaf binder.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of certain parts of the binder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figure showing the construction of the bottom. of the binder.

Figure I} is a perspective view of the top cover and one of the binding strips.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the leaves.

Figure 6 is a transverse section view on a reduced scale taken on line 66 of Fieure 1, showing details of construction.

Figure 'l' is a longitudinal sect-ion view of one embodiment of the improved binder, showing details of construction.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section view of the embodiment shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10' is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the lower binding strip shown in Figures 8 and 9; and.

Figure 11 is an enlarged-vertical section view of the part shown in Figure 10.

. lln, Figure l of the accompanying drawings, I. have illustrated, a binder comprising a pair of binding strips 1 and 2, having covers 3 and 4; associated therewith. The cover 3 is shown hinged to the upper binding strip 1, and the lower cover 4 is shown hinged to the lower binding strip 2. These parts may be associated with each, other in other ways; for example, in Figure 9, I have illustrated a lower cover 4 which is integral with the binding strip 2. A plurality of leaves 5 are arranged between the covers 3 and 4 and the binding strips 1 and 2. It will 'be understood that these leaves are clamped in place by the binding strips 1 and 2. These members are preferably held in place by a post (3, which can be carried by one binding strip, preferably the lower one, and arranged so as to project through a notch 7 (see Fig. 4) in the other binding strip. A nut 8 preferablyprovidedwith a knurled surface, is mounted on the post and serves as a means forclamping the top binding strip 1 against the leaves disposed below this strip. The post 1 is preferably, though not necessarily, pivoted or hinged to the lower binding strip 2. Referring to Figure 3, a small plate 9 may be riveted to the bottom of the lower binding strip 2 and this plate may carry a pin 10 passing through the lower end of the binding post 6. The sheets of paper or leaves, one of which is shown in detail in Figure 5, are each provided with a notch 11 of somewhat larger dimensions than the threaded post 6. It will be understood that when the nut 8 on the binding post 6 has been loosened, this post can be dropped back so as to disengage the notch 7 in the upper binding strip and the notches in the leaves between the two binding strips. The top covers 3 and the top binding strip can then be lifted oil and the entire pad of leaves can be removed with the greatest ease, because there is no tendency whatever for the leaves to catch in the screw threads on the binding post. The binding post can be threaded throughout its entire length, so that the nut can be used effectively to clamp any number of sheets between the two binding strips, unless of course the pad of sheets is of greater thickness than the length of the binding post. In order that the nut may operate in the most e-iiicient manner to clamp the sheets in place, I prefer to construct the notch"? in the upper binding strip of smaller dimensionsthan the corresponding notches in the leaves. This gives the nut a' maximum bearing surface and makes it possible for the leaves to be held together very firmly.

Iprefer to provide some means for holding the sheets or leaves substantially in alignmentwhile the top binding strip is being put in place and the nut 8 screwed down on the post 6. The lower binding strip can be provided with a plurality of projections 12 and 13 cooperating with the correspond ing notches 14 and 15 in the leaves or sheets of paper. The projections 12 and 13 extend inward substantially toward the binding post and they serve to keep the sheets of paper substantially in alignn'ient and out of contact with the threaded binding post 6. They also lessen the danger of the corners of the sheets being pulled out from between the binding strips. I have found that these projections can be made much more eflicient by constructing them so that they extend at an acute angle to the adjacent edges of the leaves, as illustrated in Fig. 8. One or both of the projections 12 and 13 can be arranged at an angle other than 90 with the edge of the binder. If these projections extend in a direction toward the back of the binder instead of toward the covers 3 and 1, they act as very ellicient means for preventing accidental displacement of the corners of the leaves between the binding strips, and they are very ellicientas a means for keeping the leaves in alignment with each other.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 inclusive is similar to that shown in the other figures, except that the back cover plate is shown integral with the lower binding strip 2, as mentioned above. Furthermore, the embodiu'ient shown in Figures 9 to 11 includes a tront cover plate 3, provided with a plurality of openings 16, 17 and 18, arranged to cooperate with the projection 13, the post and the projection 12 respectively, to permit the front cover to turn back further than would otherwise be the use. Figure 9 clearly illustrates the advantage to be derived from providing these openings in the front cover plate. In Figures 10 and 11, l have illustrated in detail one method ot connecting the post 6 directly to the lower binding strip instead of to a small plate such as that shown in Figure 3, for example. In Figures 10 and 11, I have shown the lower binding strip as provided with cut portions '19 and 20, which have been pressed downward so as to provide supports for a pin 10 which passes through the lower end of the binding post 6.

lVhether the lower binding strip is made integral with the lower cover or not, I prefer to make this strip integral with the projections 12 and 13 which serve to keep the sheets in alignment and to prevent accidental removal or the leaves from be tween the binding strips. I also prefer to provide a back portion 21 integral with the lower binding strip and serving as a means for covering up the back edges of the leaves and of the upper binding strips. This back portion can be provided with a relatively large notch 22 adapted to leceive the post and the nut carried by this post. The post can be provided with means for preventing till accidental removal of the nut. The top of the post can be flattened so as to provide an annular projection 23 which will prevent the nut from being accidentally removed and lost.

In order to remove a set of leaves from my improved binder, it is merely necessary to loosen the nut 8; it is not necessary nor desirable to take the nut entirely oil? from the post. The post can then be moved backward out of the slots in the upper binding strip and in the leaves, and then the binding strip and leaves can be removed bodily. A new set of leaves can then be inserted, the binding post brought to a vertical position, and the nut tightened.

My invention combines the advantages of a screw threaded binding post with the advantage of having the leaves arranged so that they can be removed with the greatest ease; there is no tendency for the leaves to catch in the threads of the binding post. All of the parts of my inmproved, binder can be made in large quantities at low cost. Aside from the binding post and the nut carried by it, parts which are extremely simple in themselves, all of the parts consist of simple metal stampings which can be made and assembled at very low cost. The binder is campact and will practically never get out of order. The construction is extremely rugged, and the binding means serves to firmly clamp the leaves in place, whether the number of leaves is very small or equal to the maximum capacity of the device.

Itis to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated and described as representing certain applications of my invention, but in cludes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of binding strips, leaves arranged between the said strips, means for keeping the leaves substantially in alignment, said leaves and one of said strips each having a notch intermediate the side edges of the leaves, a threaded post pivoted to the other strip and projecting through the said notches, and a nut carried by said post, the said post being adapted to swing at least partially out of the notches when the nut is loosened.

2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a top binding strip and a bottom binding strip, the said bottom strip having a back portion integral therewith and arranged so as to cover the back edge of the top binding strip, leaves arranged between the said binding strips. said leaves and said top binding strip each having a notch intermediate the side edges of the leaves, a threaded post pivoted to the bottom binding strip and projecting through the said notches and a nut carried by said post, the said back portion of the lower binding strip having a notch therein adapted to receive the upper end of the threaded post.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a top binding strip, a bottom binding strip, a cover hinged to the top binding strip, leaves arranged between the said binding strips, the said leaves and the top binding strip each having a notch therein intermedi ate the side edges of the leaves, a threaded post carried by the lower binding strip and projecting through the said notches, and a nut carried by said threaded post, the said cover being provided with apertures permitting the turning back of the cover beyond the projecting edges of the back portion, where by the operability of the binder is improved.

4:. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a top binding strip. a bottom binding strip, a cover hinged to the top binding strip, leaves arranged between the said binding strips, the said leaves and the top binding strip each having a notch therein intermediate the side edges of the leaves, a threaded post carried by the lower binding strip and projecting through the said notches, a nut carried by said threaded post, and a pair of projections integral with said bottom binding strip and projecting toward the said threaded post, the said leaves having notches fitting around the said projections, and the said cover having apertures permitting the turning back of the cover beyond the pro jecting edges of the back portion, whereby the operability of the binder is improved.

5. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of a pair of binding strips, leaves arranged between the said strips, means for clamping the binding strips firmly against the leaves. and a pair of projections carried by one of said binding strips and extending substantially toward said clamping means at an acute angle to the side edges of the leaves, the said leaves having notches fitting around the said projections.

63. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of a pair of binding strips, leaves arranged between the said strips, means for clamping the binding strips firmly against the leaves, and a pair of lugs integral with one of said binding strips and extending at an acute angle to the side edges of the said leaves and toward the back edges of these leaves, the said leaves having notches fitting around the said lugs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRED BERNEIR.

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